Clamp



A. coous.

CLAMP.

' APPLICATION FI LED MAR. 18, 1919.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

3140a "to c it ran" CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21,1920.

Application filed March 18, 1919. Serial "No. 283,418.

1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo ()ooNs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Wappingers Falls, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamp particularly adapted for clamping cloth on a cutting table so as to hold the same during the cutting or measuring operation. The clamp is adjustable so that it may be made to clamp any number of thicknesses of pieces of cloth within reasonable limits and the adjustment is of a character permitting the spread of the clamp jaws to be effected quickly and easily.

A further object of the invention is a provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, durable andeifective in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects appearin the,

following description wherein the invention is set forth in detail.

To the exact construction which is shown and described, the invention is not to be restricted. The right is reserved to make such changes or alterations as the actual reduction to practice may suggest, in so far such changes or alterations are com )atible with the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the improved clamp.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Referring to the drawings, the clamp is shown as comprising a stationary aw 1, Upstanding at substantially right angles thereto there is a body member 2 to which the jaw 1 is permanently connected. This body member or portion 2 is formed with a longitudinal slot 3 on one side of which there are formed the teeth 1 of the shape of ratchet teeth, the underface of the teeth be ing at right angles to the length of the slot and the upper face of the teeth being in clined away from the side of the slot.

Cooperating with the stationary jaw 1 there is a movable jaw 5 and this jaw is formed integral with a handle 6. the body portion 2 of the device passing through a slot 7 formed in the combined jaw and handle. A slide 8 is mounted in the slot 3 and secured to this side there is'a handle element 5),th1s handle element being bifurcated at one end and straddling the body member 2,

so that the rivets 10 which secure it to theslide 8 may engage in on both sides with the.

slide between. The combined handle and aw element is pivotally mounted on the slide 8, being mounted for rocking movement with a stud 11 which passes loosely through the slide,.the tie combined jaw and handle element. I

Provision is made for forcing the jaw 5 normally toward the jaw 1 and to this end the handle 6 is slotted on the underface and the handle 2 on the upper face, whereby there are provided pockets 12 and 13 in the two handles in which a coiled expansion spring 14 may be carried, the expansion of the spring rocking the jaw 5 downwardly and the compression of the spring by for'cing the handle 6 down toward the handle 9 rocking the aw 5 upward.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 15 carried by the slide there is a pawl 16 and the nose of this pawl is adapted to engage any one of the teeth 4. The tail 17 of the pawl is engaged by one end of a flat spring 18, the latter being carried by the combined handle and jaw element at a point in the vicinity of the stud 11.

l/Vith the pawl disengaged from the teeth d (which disengagement may be effected by stud being secured to pressing down upon the upper edge of, the

tail of the pawl) the'slide 8 may be moved longitudinally along the slot 3, thus changing the position of the handle element 9 in reference to the stationary jaw 1. With the pawl in engagement with the teeth 1, however, movement of the handle 9 away from the jaw 1 is precluded but the handle 9 may beforced in the direction of the jaw 1 by pressing down upon it or any of the parts with which it is connected, the pawl the while ratcheting over the teeth 4.

The pin 15 which keeps the pawl in engagement with the teeth 4: being mounted on the combined handle and jaw element, the forcing of the handle 6 down toward the handle 9 will relieve the pressure of the spring 18upon the pawl and the pawl will thus drop out of engagement with the teeth when the whole of the movable jaw structure may be shifted relative to the stationary jaw. The handle 6, however, may be forced down far enough to have that end of the slot 7 adjacent the jaw 5 engage the edge of the body portion 2, thus precluding any movement of the handle 9 and its attendant parts relative to the jaw 1. 1

It is obvious from the construction shown in the drawings and the description above in which that construction is set forth that position to eh ect a firm clamping operation upon the goods. The purpose of shifting the movable jaw structure along the body portion 2 is obviously for the purpose of increasing the effective spread the jaws when it is desired to clamp a great number of thicknesses of goods.

The invention having been described what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A clamp for the purpose set forth comprising a stationary jaw, a body member attached to the stationary jaw, a swinging movable jaw, a slide carried by the body member, the swinging jaw being pivotally mounted on the slide, and means for adjust ing the slide longitudinally along the body member.

2. A clamp of the character specified comprising a stationary jaw, a body'member to which the stationary jaw is attached, the said body member being formed with a longitudinal slot, a slide mounted in the said slot, a handle element fixedly connected with the slide, a movable jaw pivotally mounted on the slide, means tending normally to rock the movable jaw toward the stationary jaw, and means for adjusting the slide longitudinally in said slot.

3. A clamp for the purpose set forth comprising a stationary jaw, a body member connected with the stationary jaw, the sail body member being formed with a long tudinal slot and with ratchet teeth on o: side wall of said slot, a slide mounted in said slot, a handle member fixedly connected with said slide, a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said slide, the said movable jaw being formed with a handle, a spring carried between the first said handle and the last said handle and tending to force the two apart and to rock the movable jaw toward the stationary aw, a pawl pivotally mounted on the slide and having its nose en aging the said ratchet teeth, and a spring carried by the movable jaw and bearing upon the tail of the pawl, whereby the movable jaw may be adjusted longitudinally along the body member.

In testimony whereof I my signature.

ALONZO CQONS. 

